What this market covers
Sensors, positioning and software that let vehicles, ships, drones and robots find their path without human steering. Buyers are vehicle makers, defence agencies and robot builders.
Typical segments
- Lidar and radar systems
- Inertial navigation
- Satellite positioning
- Mapping and localisation software
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +51% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted -9% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €313.6 million of products under CN code 90148000 (Navigational instruments and apparatus) from outside the EU in 2025. | 313.6 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 90148000 were up 51% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€207.5 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +51 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 90148000 to countries outside the EU were worth €421.7 million in 2025. | 421.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 90148000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €307.0 million in 2025. | 307.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United States was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 90148000 to the EU in 2025, with €99.4 million, or 32% of extra-EU imports. | 99.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 90148000 to the United States were €77.4 million in 2025. | 77.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 90148000 was €243.26 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 243.26 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| France was the largest EU exporter of CN 90148000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €187.0 million. | 187.0 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 8,828 enterprises in NACE class C2651 (Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation) in 2023. | 8,828 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C2651 had net turnover of €95.40 billion in 2023. | 95.40 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C2651 employed 390,399 people across the EU in 2023. | 390,399 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 1,487 private establishments in NAICS 334511 (Search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical system and instrument manufacturing) in 2025. | 1,487 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 334511 employed an average of 122,914 people in US private industry in 2025. | 122,914 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 334511 changed by -9% between 2020 (134,740 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | -9 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 334511 was $135,164 in 2025. | 135,164 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| PubMed indexed 147 papers mentioning "autonomous navigation" in the title or abstract in 2025. | 147 papers | 2025 | U.S. National Library of Medicine |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 313551040
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 207537284; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 313551040
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 421705269
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 306994645
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, partner US, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 99439862
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 77419868
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 90148000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 313551040, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 12889
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter FR, product 90148000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 187036402
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2651, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 8828
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2651, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 95400
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C2651, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 390399
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 334511, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334511, annual_avg_estabs 1487
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334511, annual_avg_emplvl 122914
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 134740; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 122914
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 334511, avg_annual_pay 135164
- Figure 12
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed search "autonomous navigation"[tiab] AND 2025[dp] (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 16
esearch count 147
- Figure 16
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Defence agencies
- Robot makers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU autonomous navigation market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €313.6 million of goods under CN 90148000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €421.7 million.
Where does the EU import autonomous navigation from?
United States was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Taiwan, United Kingdom, Norway.
What is the average import price of autonomous navigation in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €243.26 per kilogram for CN 90148000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most autonomous navigation?
France led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, Netherlands.
How many US companies are in the autonomous navigation industry?
BLS counts 1,487 private establishments in NAICS 334511 (Search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical system and instrument manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the autonomous navigation industry?
Eurostat counts 8,828 enterprises in NACE class C2651 (Manufacture of instruments and appliances for measuring, testing and navigation).
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